Typewriting machine



Nev. 26, 1929. L. c. MYERS TYPEWRI TING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Shem NOV. 26, 1929. c, MYERS 1,737,324

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Shem 2 r, me,

Application filed @ctoher 1d, 19%. Serial No. 226,954i.

. This invention relates to a type action for typewriting machines in which there are a plurality of sliding type bars which converge to a common printing center and each type 6 bar is provided with a plurality of groups of two type each. In the mbdification shown, the type bars are actuated by power means, but it is evident that the key levers might be connected to operate them directly if so desired.- Each t pe bar is controlled by two key levers fort e purpose of selecting the desired type of each group and the platen is shifted in the usual or any desired manner in order to bring it into a position to cooperate with the-selected group of types.

The sliding type bars are actuated by a toggle mechanism which in the pres ht form does not reach a complete straight ine position, but is limited in its movement by contact with resilient stops. The printing is,

therefore, performed substantially by pressure instead of impact. Mean's'is provided for obtaining a relative adjustment between the normal position of the platen and. the type bars in order that the force of the imprint may be varied as may be desired for manifolding. 1

The mechanism controlled by one of each pair of keys merely gives the type bar its 1 sliding movement, while the other key not only gives the type bar the same sliding movement, but gives a lifting movement to a guide member which supports the type bar in its travel to the printing point, thereby lifting 3 the bar into position so that another type of the group'is' brought to the printing oint.

Other objects of the invention wil be apparent from the following detailed description'and will be setforth in the appended claims.'

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa side elevatlon of a single-type.

actionlwith parts in fore and-aft section, the full line position denoting the normal position'of the parts and the dotted line positiondenoti'ng the printing position when one of the key levers is depressed. I

' Figure 2 is a similarview showing in full lines the position taken by the parts when the other of the key levers which control the same type bar is fully depressed. 4

Figure 3 is a disassembled view of a portion of the action.- v v The invention maybe embodied in typewriting machines of widely difierent character in other respects, and for this reason the other instrumentalities of the typewriting machine have not been illustrated. There is indicated a platen A which is movable toa second position indicated in dotted lines by any usual or desired form of case shift mechamsm. i I

Each type bar 1 is mounted to slide and is preferably 'made in skeleton form for the sake of lightness and is provided with four type a, b, c, and-d. When the platen isin its lower position as shown inFigure 1, operation of the type bar will print from one of'the type a or d. If the type bar is given merely its longitudinal movement, the printing impress will be from the typp a as indicated in Flgure 1 while if the type ar is simultaneously lifted by the depression of the other key which operates the same, the imprint will be from the type d as shown in Figure 2. If it is desired to print from. types a or b, the platen is shifted to the dotted line position and the two key levers control the selection of the types a or b in similar manner.

Each type bar is guided on a supporting frame member 2 which is a substantially horizontal lever and is pivoted at 3 to a support carried by the machlne frame. This member 2 has upward projections 4 which bear against one side of the type bar and serve to guide it in its sliding movement. Riveted or otherwise fastened to the member 2 at "5 is a plate 6 which extends to the upper edge of the type bar and to this plate is fastened b rivets orsimilar fastenings 8 a longitudinally extending member .7 which has downward pro actions 9 which are slightl grooved ito fit on 0th sides of theupper e go of die type bar 1. The supporting guide 2, plate 6 and member 8 assist in guiding, the type bar correctly when actuated to print. v

Attac ed.- to. an intermediate ortion 10 of the type bar 11 is alink 12. Y is link is illustrated" as comprising two parallel, members connected by web portions 13. This is primarily for convenience in manufacture and to add stability to the parts since one of the members 12 passes on each side of the type bar and serves to guide the rear end thereof in its movement. it is, however, possible to omit the webportions 13 and use two separate links or even a single link member. Pivoted at 14 to the link 12 is a short link '15 which in turn is pivoted at 16 to a supporting member 17 carried by the frame of the machine. An extension 18 from the member 17 passes through a bar or similar member carried by the frame of the machine and a screw 19 threaded into said bar is provided with a head 20 which engages in a cutout 21 of the extension 18. It IS obvious that an adjustment of the screw 19 will result in an adjustment of the member 17 and accordingly of the position taken by the type bar at the end of the printing movement. A .set screw may also be provided for holding n1e1nber 17 in adjusted position if so desired.

Pivoted at 22 to an ear intermediate the ends 15 is a link 23 pivoted at its other end at 24 to a lever including two parallel arms 25 which pass on either side of the member 17 and are pivoted thereto at 26. Two bell crank levers are also pivoted on the same pivotal axis 26 and as more clearly shown in Figure'3, oneof the bell crank levers 27 is a three-armed lever while the bell crank lever 28 is a two-armed lever. Thebell crank lever 27 has an upwardly extending arm 29 provided with an offset ear 30 which overlies oneof the arms 25. The bell crank lever 28 has an upwardly extending arm-31 provided with an offset ear 32 which overlies the other of the lever arms 25. In this manner an operation of either of the bell crank levers will result in operating the arms 25 and consequently thetype bar. Springs 33 are-provided for returningthe bell crank levers to normal position and a spring 34 is provided for returning the arms 25 to normal'position, each of these springs being fastened at one end to the frame of the machine.

"A second arm 35 of the bell crank lever 27 is connected by a link 36 to a power driven member 37 and the other arm 38 of the bell crank lever 28 is connected by a link 39 to a similar power operated member 40. The key lever 41 pivoted on an axis 42 is held in normal position by a spring 43 which is attached at one end to the key le'ver and at itsother end to a stud 44 carried by the frame 1 while the second key lever 45 of each bitris .pivoted at 46 and held in normalposition by a spring 47 also attached to the stud 44. The key levers 41 and 45 respectivelywhen de+ pressed operatemember 48 and 49 which are in the nature of extensions of the key lever and cause the type bar operating members 37 or 40 to be connected to a constantly run ning power mechanism comprising a rotating the presentinvention, the construction is not illustrated nor described in detail. It is ob vious that other forms. of power driving mechanism might be employed or that the links 36 and 39 might be connected directly to the key levers for manual operation.

The third arm 51 of the bell crank lever 27 has a link 52 slidably connected at one end thereto, the other end of this link being pivoted at 53 to one end of the supporting and guiding member 2. A spring 54 serves to retain the member 2 in normal position. This spring is attached at one end to the member 2and at the other end to the pivotal connection of the link 52 with the arm 51.

In the present form the toggle formed by the links 12 and 15 reaches a substantially straight line position at the time of printing, the parts coming in contact with the resilient stops 55 and 56 carried by a fixedvpart just before the bar reaches the printing point. This stop 56 isin the nature of ,a rubber button with an enlarged head and both the stops 55 and 56 will yield sufficiently to allow the type to reach the platen.

There are also provided other devices for eliminating noise and these include a comb guide 57 carried by the frame of the machinewhich provides a guidefor all of the members 2. Attached .to this comb guide is a trough member 58 having resilient pads 59 and 60 on the two inner 'sides'thereof with which pads contacts the projection 61 carried by the lifting frame member 2. Whenthe parts are in the normal position as shown in Figure 1, this projection 61 contacts with the lower resilient pad 60 while when the lifting frame member 2 is moved to itsvother position, the member61 contacts with the upper pad 59. Attached to the top of the bar which carries the members 18 is a device 62 which retains a resilient pad 63 with which contactsthe pivotal connection 24 of the links 23 and 25 when the parts are in normal posithe key levers contact in their return to normal position.

The operationof 'thedevice will be apparent from the above description but may be briefly recapitulated. When the parts are in the full line positions shown in Figure 1 and the key lever 41 isdepressed, this results in connectlng the power-mechanism with the link 39 thus operatin the bell crank lever 28 and through the 0 set ear 32 moving the lever arms 25 without disturbing the position of the bell crank lever 27. The movement of the lever arms 25 will move the type action to printing position and as soon as the parts.-

have been thus moved, the key lever will be memes disconnected from the'power mechanism and the type action will return to normal position irrespective of whether pressure is released from the key lever or not. If the key lever 45 is depressed, this will result in connecting the power mechanism to the link 36 and operating the bell crank lever 27 which through the ear 30 will operate the lever arms 25 without disturbing the bell crank lever 28. This will result in moving the type bar to printing position in the manner just described. However, an operation of the bill crank lever 27 will through the arm 51 pull on the spring 54 and move the supporting and guiding member 2 from the Figure 1 position to the Figure 2 position, thus bringing the bar into position to print from the type d. It may be noted that the supporting and guiding member 2 is preferably inclined slightly below the horizontal at its rear end when printing from the type 0 as in Figure 1 and is inclined at a similar angle above the horizontal position when printing from the type d as shown in Figure 2. Instead of or in addition to the means for adjusting the position of each type action individually, there may be provided the usual orany desired means for adjusting the nor-' mal position of the platen with respect to the printing point. It is also obvious that Vanous detail changes may be made in the preclse embodiment of the invention without in any way departing from the spirit thereof which is to be regarded as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

. I claim as my invention:

1. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with a plurality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in each group, means for operating said type bar which include a pair of toggle links, a resilient stop engageable by one of said links when the toggle is'straightened, a

lever pivoted to a fixed support and connected to one of said links, and means for independently operating said lever by the depression of anykey lever. I I

2. A type action comprismg a slidable type bar of type in each group, a support pivoted type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in each group, a support pivoted on a fixed axisfor the type bar, means for operating the type bar which include a air of toggle links, a lever pivoted to a xed support and to one of the links, a pair of bell crank levers for operating the pivoted lever, power means, power operated means connected to the bell crank levers and controlled by thedepression of each key lever for sliding the type bar to printing position, and a link-connected to one bell crank lever and to the support, and operated by the depression of one key lever only for swinging the support by the power means,

3. A. type action com rising a slidable type bar provided with a p urality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in each group, a pivoted support for the type bar, means for operating the type bar which include a pair of toggle links, a resilient stop for limitng the movement of one of said links, a lever pivoted to a fixed support and to one of the links, a pair of bell crank levers for operating the pivoted lever, power means, power operated means connected to the bell crank levers and controlled by the depression of each key lever for sliding the type bar to printing position, and a link connected to one bell crank lever and to the support and operated by the depression of one key lever only for swinging the support by the power means.

4. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with a plurality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in each group, means for operating said type bar which include a pair of toggle links, a resilient stop engageable by one of said links when the toggle is straightened, a lever pivoted to a fixed support and connected to one of said links, and means for adjusting the normal position of the pivoted lever and thereby varyin the throw of the type bar, and means for in ependently operating said lever by the depression of any key lever.

5. A type action comprising a slidable type bar .providedwith a plurality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in each group, a movable support for the type bar, power means, power operated means controlled by the depression of each key lever for sliding the type bar to the printing position, and means operated by the depression of one key lever only for moving the entire support by the power means.

6. type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with a plurality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in each group, a movable support for the type bar, power means, power operated means controlled by the depression of each key leverfor slidin the typebar to the printing position inc ,uding a lever, and means operated by the deression of one key lever only for moving "1. entire support'by the power means.

7. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with a p urality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in each group, a support for the type bar pivoted toswing about a fixed axis, power operated means controlled by the -a type bar shdably mounted on sai depression of each key lever; for sliding the type bar to the printing position, means oper ated by the depression of one key lever'only for swinging .t e support by the power operated means, and means forhmiting the pivot-' al movement of the support.

8. A type action comprising a slidable type,

bar provided with a p urality of groups of type, key levers associated with theftype bar and corresponding in number to the number of ty e in each group, a movable support for t e type bar, power operated means controlled by the depression of each key lever for slidin the type bar to the printing position, yie dable stops cooperating with the type bar to limit its extreme positions of movement, and meansoperated by the depression of one key lever only for'moving the entire support by the power Operated means. v

9. A ty action com rising at slidable type bar provi ed with a p urality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar and corresponding in number to the num ber of ty in each group, a support pivoted on a fixe axis for the type bar, power means, normally ineffective power-operated means for swinging the support, normally inefl'ective power-operated means for sllding the type bar on the support, and connections between each key leverand the type bar sliding means for renderin said sliding means efi'ective upon depression of each key lever, and between the sup ort moving means and one key lever only or renderin said support moving means effective upon epression of said one key lever.

10. In a type action, a pivoted support,

sup-

port, spaced upper and lower resilient stops,

. an arm rigid with the support 'for cooperation with said stops to limit: the extreme ivotal movements of the su port, and means or swinging the support an sliding the type bar thereon.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' LEWIS C. MYERS.

mamas 

